DeSantis on Biden's 'Border Crisis': 'Cartels are Just Eating our Lunch'

Standing alongside local Jacksonville, Florida leaders, including Rep. John Rutherford (R) and City of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Governor Ron DeSantis announced new immigration proposals for the upcoming 2022 legislative session in Tallahassee to address the Biden border crisis.

“We have a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law, we have a responsibility to the Constitution, and we have a responsibility to stand up against an administration that has decided they don’t want to have a secure border,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These are a robust series of proposals and I believe we are going to get a lot of support from the legislature. The laws of our country require us to enforce the law and that is what needs to be done.”

Gov. DeSantis pointed out that because of the Biden “border crisis,” which he has been very critical of, criminal drug cartels were emboldened and were in control of the southern border to the U.S. 

“The cartels are just eating our lunch with what’s going on with these border policies. They’ve never had it so good. You’ve got drugs pouring across, you got human trafficking coming,” said Gov. DeSantis

The crisis along the border, which has been “causing a huge burden” on the American people and as a result of the “sheer number of people” crossing over, has led DeSantis to propose new action against the Biden administration.

“The cartels are just eating our lunch with what’s going on with these border policies. They’ve never had it so good.

DeSantis wants transportation contractors, who facilitated the migration of illegal immigrants to Florida after breaking U.S. immigration laws, to bared from doing business with local and state agencies in the future.

In addition, “any private entity facilitating illegal immigration” will now have to pay “restitution to the state.” DeSantis said that taxpayer dollars are used to pay for lodging, legal fees, and healthcare for these illegal immigrants once they arrive.

DeSantis concluded by saying that he was going to “strengthen sanctuary city” laws and strengthen the E-verify measure.

Shortly after taking office in 2019, DeSantis called on the Florida Legislature to pass an E-Verify requirement on the upcoming 2020 legislative session, and he was joined in making the call with Senator Joe Gruters (R) and Rep. Cord Byrd (R).